DeFalco wins Player of Year as Long Beach dominates Big West awards

Make it back-to-back years and in two different conference that Long Beach State outside attacker TJ DeFalco has won the top individual award.

DeFalco on Monday was named the inaugural recipient of the Big West Player of the Year.

The All-American finished the regular season in the conference’s top five with both a 3.66 kills per game average and a .383 attack percentage. In addition, DeFalco had a conference-best 0.50 aces per game average as he helped Long Beach State win the Big West regular season championship and go undefeated until its regular season finale.

DeFalco returned to the 49ers for his junior season after spending the offseason playing with the United States in the FIVB World League. He also was the 2017 MPSF Player of the Year in Long Beach State’s final season in that conference before departing to join the newly formed Big West men’s volleyball conference.

DeFalco was one of four 49ers to earn First-Team All-Big West honors in the conference’s inaugural season. Hawai’i tied Long Beach State for the most First-Team All-Big West selections, while UC Irvine and CSUN each had three players earn the honor.

Along with the 49ers winning the Big West Player of the Year, Long Beach State coach Alan Knipe was named the Big West Coach of the Year.

UC Irvine outside attacker Joel Schneidmiller also was selected as the Big West Freshman of the Year after helping the Anteaters end the regular season in third place in the conference.

2018 Big West individual awards

Big West Player of the Year: TJ DeFalco, Long Beach StateBig West Freshman of the Year: Joel Schneidmiller, UC IrvineBig West Coach of the Year: Alan Knipe, Long Beach State